NFL insider names the holdup on the Pittsburgh Steelers' side of the negotiations with star pass rusher T.J. Watt
T.J. Watt and the Pittsburgh Steelers remain at a standstill in their contract talks. Many believe that both sides will come to a resolution within the coming weeks, however, likely before the start of training camp. But for the Steelers brass, there seems to be a key part of their process that is holding them […]
T.J. Watt and the Pittsburgh Steelers remain at a standstill in their contract talks.
Many believe that both sides will come to a resolution within the coming weeks, however, likely before the start of training camp.
But for the Steelers brass, there seems to be a key part of their process that is holding them up when it comes to Watt's future…
Steelers concerned with Watt's longevity
"The issue with this is this is a big swing with Aaron Rodgers, They know how important the defense is gonna be, they know they need T.J. Watt, and a deal is most likely going to get done," said NFL insider James Palmer on Wednesday via Bleacher report on YouTube. "But the Steelers' argument is this: that Watt and the defense kind of fell off a little bit the back end of last year . . .
" . . . He's had some injuries; he's battled through them. He's going to be 31 years old. Do you give $100 million guaranteed to somebody like that? I think that's where this battle's going to happen, but I think a deal is going to end up happening."
It's a fair point to make, and certainly the main issue within the Steelers brass. When you're talking about giving someone of Watt's stature a contract, it's market-resetting kind of money, which is risky given he plays the most physical position in a physical sport and has been banged up at some point for the last three seasons.
Even still, Watt wants to top Myles Garrett's title of highest paid non quarterback in the NFL at over $40m average per year. The question is, will he?
“i don’t know that he’s gonna get more than Myles Garrett,” Adam Schefter said on The Pat McAfee Show on Wednesday. “I think T.J. Watt’s gonna get a nice, strong, healthy deal and I think at some point in time the two sides will be able to figure out a way to get this done. I can’t imagine that T.J. Watt wouldn’t be there for the start of training camp, that Pittsburgh will not get a deal done. We heard Mike Tomlin last week at mandatory minicamp say that both sides are working to make it happen. But T.J. Watt is serious here. He’s seen all the money that’s gone around, and he wants to make sure that he gets rewarded in the appropriate way.”
